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Shaikh Dr Tahir ul-Qadri Issues Anti-Terrorism Fatwa Without Teeth
KS
Regarding Shaikh Dr Tahir ul-Qadri’s Anti-Terrorism Fatwa, recently launched in London, I guess any steps forward in fighting terrorism should be considered a good thing. However, these initiatives can be read in many ways and I’ll give you a few points off the top of my head, replicates what many others are thinking in the Muslim community.
Firstly, I doubt this will have the clout envisaged by one of it's apparent key promoters the Quilliam foundation (a counter-terrorism think tank) as the fatwa itself does not have the unanimous backing of the most prominent scholars and Sheikhs, although the opinions and rulings of some prominent scholars do appear to have been involved in drawing it up. Also this is not the first fatwa to condemn suicide bombings/terrorism, and Qadri is not the first ‘important/eminent’ Sheikh to issue such a fatwa, as many more prominent scholars and Sheikhs have done so already, and these are ignored by those idiots that seek to commit suicide bombings and terrorism anyway. Furthermore, most Islamic scholars and Imams have already consistently condemned killing people in the name of Islam for a long, long time. There is simply minimal publicity about these earlier efforts and therefore the time spent promoting Shaikh Dr Tahir ul-Qadri’s Anti-Terrorism Fatwa would have been better spent promoting that Muslims have already been condemning terrorism for some time.
Secondly, regarding Qadri's status, the Sheikh in question appears to head a Sufi organisation and as such there will be many branches of the Muslim community that will not recognise his rulings. In fact, its likely that most of his own followers will accept his fatwa but then as his followers they are likely to not support terrorism or suicide bombings anyhow. Furthermore, another reason he is not a universally accepted figure by all individuals and branches of the Muslim community is because in the past has made segregating comments about some other Muslim communities such as Wahabbis and Deobandis. So I’d suggest that this fatwa is not really groundbreaking apart from inside his own organisation and will never be widely acknowledged apart from by his own followers.
Thirdly, although it is important that such a Fatwa has been publicised, the importance and reach perceived by the press, Quilliam foundation, etc, does appear overrated/overestimated. Why? Because those that commit such crimes have already heard existing Fatwa’s stating it to be wrong and ignore them, those that do not recognise this Sheikh would have already heard existing Fatwa’s stating it to be wrong, those that follow this Sheikh should already be clear terrorism is wrong and do not need a Fatwa to tell them this, and those non-followers that already know it to be wrong do not need another Fatwa to remind them.
I’ve read a cross-section of interesting views which collectively place this Fatwa in it’s correct context and weight it’s relevance.
"The fatwa, running to 600 pages, has been written by Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri, founder and leader of a Muslim sect based in Pakistan, and highlighted in a press release from the Quilliam Foundation, an anti-extremism thinktank which last year received £1m funding from the British government." (Guardian)
"It (the fatwa) plays on a widely-held (and sometimes willful) misperception that Muslim leaders have not spoken out against Islamist violence. Large numbers of Muslim leaders have denounced violence, suicide bombs, 9/11, 7/7 and many other bloody attacks by Islamist radicals (check out a long partial list here)." (Reuters)
"Tim Winter, a lecturer in Islamic studies at Cambridge University, said while ul-Qadri’s step of declaring "miscreants as unbelievers" was unusual, it was unlikely extremists would take notice of his edict." (Al Jazeera)"I dont think any Muslim will disagree with his fatwa .. Whoever has killed an innocent human beings regardless of religion , colour , race , nationality is a terrorist. At the same time he should have mentioned American and its allies are also terrorists (including govt of pakistan ). They have also killed millions of innocent human beings in Iraq , Afganistan … We cant say one side is terrorist and other is fighting for so called democracy." (Islamonline forum)
"The scholars of K.S.A have been condemning terror and issuing fatwas since the 70’s (maybe even before then) and no one took any notice…" …"The barelvis and assorted sufi councils are flavour of the month with the UK government to spread division, hate and doubt among Muslims." (Ummah.com forum)
"What’s funny is that the Government have money to waste in what’s supposed to be a recession. They give money to the Quilliam Foundation to elicit fatwas from men who have virtually no influence on the Muslims in the UK. How ironic that these munafiq "scholars" are seen as a joke by the very Muslims they are meant to be deradicalising." (Islamic Awakening forum)
So thinking more about the 'Qadri Fatwa' and The Quilliam foundation there are some concerns that need to be raised.The Quilliam foundation is headed by Ed Husain, a former religious extremist, and actually has minimal support from Muslims. I’ve said previously that his book, The Islamist appears to be another Wafa Sultan type attempt to profit off the back of Islamophobia and the fear of ‘Islamism’. As Craig Murray also has said, Husain has realized that, having tried to make a mark in the world through religious fanaticism, that he can make more money and career progress by instead jumping on the anti-Islamist gravy train.
When Husain’s not traveling the world lecturing on the threat of ‘Islamist ideology’, he benefits from the fact that the UK government has had Ed Husain up in the Quilliam foundation and has thrown more than £1 million of taxpayers’ money at it.
It’s about time the public (including Muslims) begin questioning and criticizing these self-proclaiming fatwa writers and the barrage of advice they give to the police and security agencies on counter-extremism methods that only serve to further demonise and stereotype Muslims.
Sumanth
March 4, 2010
08:56 PM
So, UK Government has purchased a "Fatwa" by paying 1 million pounds.
I am not surprised.
Morris
March 4, 2010
11:24 PM
If there were sufficient denounciations of islamic terrorism in the main stream Islamic community then there will be no need for UK Government to purchase such fatwa. I am not convinced that there is a broad based condemnation of this terrorism in the Isalmic community. If it is it certainly is not loud and clear enough.
Compare this with the uproar and denounciations that happened in the Indian news media following Gujarat riots against muslims. And this is being repeated even now after so many years. We are left with no doubt that there is no support for such a violence in India.
Why do non-muslims keep doubting when muslims tell them that they condemn such terrorism?
Bipin
March 5, 2010
12:47 AM
You are right its fatwa without teeth.
It is welcome move to issue such fatwa that suicide bombing was banned by Islam without any excuses, any pretexts, or exceptions. Suicide is always condemnable by almost all the religions and nothing new in it. So, it can be counted as a teaching statement rather than issuing fatwa. Similarly, Islamic group has even earlier issued fatwa against any kind of violence/terrorism in general. But, what today need is fatwa against terrorists or terrorists group specifically to pressurize them to stop terrorism. When you can give fatwa against Taslima Nasreen and Salman Rashdie specifically then why not issue fatwa against any terrorist specifically. This is what required in today's time. Can any of Islamic group dare to do this? It will be welcome.
sham
March 5, 2010
01:40 AM
grow up kiddos .. you should be happy that someone is going extra mile to recover islam's image. Looks like Jamal is more like pro taliban..
David
March 5, 2010
06:22 AM
Shaykh-ul-Islam Professor Doctor Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has been condemning suicidal attacks and the killing of innocent people from day dot. Islam has said that from the age of 40 of the Prophet Muhammad [Peace Be Upon Him], so, no one can say that Islam allows terrorism.
The reason the Fatwa is so important now more than every is because terrorist attacks all over the world and the death of children, miserly, women and the sick have disproportionately risen.
We as the humans need to unite and grab hold of this fatwa with both hands and ensure that every madrassah, school, intuitions and work places has read the comprehensive and extensive Fatwa. So, if there are any terrorists in society they can change themselves.
This Fatwa is not benefiting Shaykh-ul-Islam Professor Doctor Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri in any way; but it is benefiting the whole world, all the governments etc. This Fatwa tells us how to get rid of terrorism; not by sending coalition forces into Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq etc and killing innocent people as well as so-called "terrorists" they have found!
Spread the positive word!
Abdul Basit Jabbar Al Qadri
URL
March 5, 2010
08:37 AM
Its excellent to see a Muslim scholar giving such an excellent Fatwa. It has been captured by the world wide media which has many benefits in this case. It can contribute to removing any misconception about Islam, it allows people to understand the muslim view of Terrorism and suicide bombing and much more. I think we should all be thankfull that atleast the Muslim scholars are getting up and condemning terrorism. Those of you who are complaining, i doubt you will ever stand up in front of the world wide media to say this is wrong ... So Stop complaining!
john fish
URL
March 5, 2010
09:31 AM
I work for Quilliam Foundation. We did not fund this Fatwa, neither did the government fund it. This was fully funded by Minhaj ul Quran.
Qadri even mentioned in his conference that he hasnt dont this for any western interest or any support. He doesnt want anything from anyone, he said he did it to please his Allah & His messenger. All he asked for was the media to support it and for once make news on a peace initiative.
Minhaj ul Quran has spread all around the world purely on funds donated by its committed members and volunteers. It has never been financially supported by any government and that includes the Pakistani government. In its nature this organisation and its founder are Unique, there is no other like it of this magnitude around the world. I've done my research. I suggest you do the same.
Give the guy a break, he has done something exceptional and when he was asked what is so special about his fatwa against all those that have been reliesed in the past he said that this Fatwa has evidences and refferences extracted from each school of thought. No islamic sect can deny its authenticity and that includes the sects that are the well wishers of suicide bombing.
He also said that another good unique thing about this fatwa is that it goes further than any other fatwa before. It proves that terrorists are non-muslims. So if a muslim becomes a terrorist he will be expelling him or herself out of the circle of Islam and will be destined for hell fire. He said no other Fatwa has gone this far, they have all said Terrorism is forbidden or Haram but never said that it makes one push out of the embit of Islam.
You read the Fatwa and regardless to what sect you belong to you cannot deny this as the evidences are strong. Somehow he knew he will have more resistence from within the muslim community.rnrnLastly he was asked about what about the palestinians or the iraqi's who believe they have no other choice but to commit terrorism to get their rights. He said terrorism is terrorism, regardless to where, when or within whichever circumstances. A wrong action cannot be cleared from its wrongness by the right intention. Really solid arguments guys.
I suggest you all have a think, read the Fatwa and support it.
kamal shah
URL
March 5, 2010
12:48 PM
Quilliam Foundation were the key promoters and you helped facilitate this fatwa and related event. Quilliam Foundation is funded by the labour govfernment just as sufi organisations are the governments friends at the moment. Fact. Furthermore, the only people that that support the Quilliam Foundation and your fatwa author are the government and anyone who has no understanding of Muslim communities.
IHK
March 12, 2010
11:09 AM
Have you read all 600 pages before reaching the conclusion mate?
kamal shah
URL
March 14, 2010
01:08 AM
I'm all for anti-terrorism measures. I've read enough to see that nowhere does it condemn the terrorism committed by allied forces in the name of democacy, nor does it acknowledge in its promotion that many Muslims, Sheikhs, Scholars and Imams have already unanimously spoken out against terrorism by both Muslim and non-Muslim.
kamal shah
URL
March 26, 2010
06:42 AM
Unfortunatly the British government fails to see reason in takling terrorism and Islamophobia but is not listening to any suggestions and heads blinkered along with its own anti terrorism agenda delivered by government stooges who in fact make the problems worse.
Ruvy
URL
March 26, 2010
08:58 AM
I saw Jamal's article republished at Blogcritics nearly word for word - and have commented with him there.rnrnI find it amusing that for all of his anti-terrorism stances, he sniffs at an anti-terrorism fatwa produced by a Sufi scholar. It is evidently not "halal" enough for him.rnrnAs for the rectitude of his arguments, he can pound sand, for all I care. I'll not waste my time on a debate with all the Israel and Jew-haters (or self-hating Jews) here. But in noting that they will not be well received by Muslims in Britain (and elsewhere), he is probably right. The Wahhabi heresy that has overturned Islam since the 1920's is too far widespread to be defeated by a mere fatwa from a Sufi sheikh.
sabatabassum
URL
March 29, 2010
11:39 AM
aslamoalikum may yeh baat bohat assan ilfaz may bayan karna chahti hoon kay is door may ager islam kay mutabiq chala jai to log mazaq banatay hain mujhay koi solution batain kay may unhain islam kay mutabiq answer day sakoon aur yeh bata dejiay kay cemetry /graveyard may namaz parhana jposible hai may app ki nahayat shukarguzar hoon kay app bathkay hoay peoplesko deen sikhatay hain .thanks
Ajaz Andrabi
URL
April 29, 2010
11:09 AM
Dr. Tahirul Qadiris fatwa if taken in to right perspective as per the rulings of Quran and Sunnah, then why not Dr. Qadiri posed a question mark on the barbaric faces of USA, Britain and Indian democracies who are responsible for massacres in Kashmir, Palestine, Chechnya,Iraq where so many democratic struggles failed to achieve their goal and then resorted to take guns in their hands?
Ajaz to sabatabassum
April 29, 2010
11:19 AM
Respected sabatabassum, i read your comment above and was pleased. you can email me at mda at gmail dot com so that i can let you know about the deeni islam and can also dispatch some books. waiting for you.
ashraf
May 9, 2010
04:42 AM
sister saba tabassum
assalamu alaikum
do not ask any ajaz or xyz for deen. You have to approach an "aa'leem". He can guide you in a right way. and also dont think that you can get deen just by reading the books one master is compulsory to explain you whatis written there in the books.
i m not the regular user i just gone through this so as a good muslim i advise you. Remember me in ur duas.
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